Cut-out and fuse mechanism.



E. B. ELLICOTT.

OUT-OUT AND FUSE MECHANISM. AfPLIOATIOI FILED IA]. 4, 1909. BEIEWED DBO. a. 1910. 1,087,357, Patented Feb. 17, 1914 2 SHEETS-BEBE! 1.

WHITE-558s InveTnFr W 4km Edward ELEHIEEH E. B. ELLICOTT. CUT-OUT AND FUSE MECHANISM. -urx mulol nnnp 1.4, 1909'. aznzwnn no. a, 1010. 1,087,357.

Patented Feb. 17, m

IILVW Wnnesses UNITED STA'I E PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD B. ELLICOTT. OF CHICAGO, ILLIN'MS. ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPQRATION OF NEW YORK.

CUT-OUT AND FUSE KECHANISI.

Specification of Letters latent. 4. 1909, Serial No. 470.631. Renewed December 3. 1910. Serial llo. 595,489.

Application filed January To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Eowann B. Enuoo'rr, a citizen of the United States. residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have. invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cut-Out and Fuse Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear. concise. and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specification- My invention relates to cut-out and fuse mechanism. particularly for high tension systems. its object being to provide improved construction and more safe and eflicient operation.

My intention is embodied in the structure shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 being a side elevation view of my improved apparatus: Fig. 2 being an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 showing the fuse holder; Fig. 4 being a sectional view on plane 4, 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 being a. view of the lower end of Fig. 4: and F12. 6 being a top view of the fuse holder handle.

The supporting structure for my improved apparatus is in the form of a frame, preferably of malleable iron. and comprising a horizontal part 1. and the vertical post 2 extendin from one end of the part 1. Extending downwardly at right angles with the part 1 is the plate 3. strengthened by webs 4. Between the plate 3 and the post 2 is the downward extension 5 parallel with the plate 3 and forming therewith a pocket for receiving a cross-arm. as or, to which the supporting frame can be secured by means of bolts passing through openings 6 and edge slots 7 through the plate 3. The post 2 has threads 8 at its end for receiving a threaded body 9 of an insulator 10, preferably of glass or porcelain. this insulator having a tticoat 11. Fitting over and secured to 5:: body part 9 of the insulator is a metallic cap 12 of conductive material such as brass or cop r, to which may be connected one termin of a circuit by means of lugs 13 and screws 14. Secured to this cap and extending upwardly therefrom are two parallel plates or jaw members 15 and 16, between which is pivoted one end of a switch blade 17 b means of pivot screw 18.

At the left an of the frame 1 is located the fuse frame, substantially tubular in genernl design, and at right angles to the frame Patented Feb. 1 7. 191 4.

1. The construction of this fuse frame is best shown in Fig. 4. The main support for the fuse frame is in the form of a tube 19 having internal threads at both ends. as shown. Engaging at the top of this tube is a terminal casting 20; whose cylindrical body art 21 is threaded to fit the internal threa s of thcupper end of the tube 19. a horizontal flange 22 on said casting enga ing over the top of said tube. Also extent ing upward from the head of the casting are two parallel jaw members '23. 2- preferably of copper. these jaw members receiving between them the other end of the switch blade 17. the bolt 25 passing through the aw members enabling adjustment thereof. A flange 26 also extends downwardly from casting :20, said flange being of less diameter than the threaded part it and forming the pocket :27. A plurality of V-shapcd contact sleeves 2% have their outer limbs 29 secured to the outer face of the flange :26. while the inner limbs 30 project into the pocket '27 to form a conical spring contact pocket. At the lower end of the tube 19 is a sleeve 31 having a threaded part 32 for engaging the inner threads at the lower end of the tube 19. and having the flange 33 at its l er end or engaging over the end of tube 19. The flange 33 is provided with a plurality of threaded openingsili, so that terminal lug 35 can be secured by means of bolts 36. As will be shown. the terminal castings 20 and 31 are adapted to receive the terminals of a fuse holder. the fuse within the holder and the switch blade to electrically connect the terminal frame 1-2 and the tenninal frame 31. In practice. the main wire counects with the terminal 12 and supplies current through the switch blade and fuse to any number of circuits connected with the terminal frame 31.

Lining the tube 19 and extending approximately between the terminal frames 20 and 31 is a tube 37. preferably of tireroof material such as asbestos. Surr und mg the upper half of sleeve 19 is the insulator 3S. and surrounding the lower half of said tube is the insulator 39. both insulators being preferably of glass or porcelain and having each any desired number of icoats 40. Bet een the insulator 3S and the tube 19 is a bushing 41 of suitable iusulating material or cmupmmd. and betw en the iower insulator and the tube there is a 10 posed some cushioning and insu ating material as washers 46 o weatherproof press board or other material, these washers fitting into the pocket 44. Upon assembly of the apparatus the contact frame 31 is .15 screwed into the lower end of the .tube 19 and the lower insulator and its bushing slipped over to rest against the flange The upper part of the tube 19 is then slipped through the opening 43 in frame 1 and the washers 46 supplied, and then the upper insulator and its bushing slipped over the tube, whereupon the upper contact frame 20 s screwed into the upper end of tube 19, its flange 22 engaging the top of insulator 26 38, the insulators being drawn toward each other to clam between them the frame 1, the fuse hol er supporting frame being, therefore, securely held in vertical position. To prevent breaking or cracking of the in- 80 sulatprs, washer material 47 may be ap-? plied between the flanges 22, 33 and the outer ends of the respective insulators. The

arrangement described forms a very rigid construction, and the'contact frames are; 85 thoroughly and lastingly insulated from; frame 1. 5

each other and from the supportrn' g The fuse holder is shown complete in Fig. 3 and in section in Fig. 4. This holder comprises a tube -18 of insulating material such 40 as fiber, said tube being threaded at both ends to receive at its upper end a terminal head 49 and at its lower end a terminal frame 50. The terminal head 49 is tubular, its upper end 51 being conical and having interior threads 52 for receiving a screw 53,

whose head forms a continuation of the conical part. This screw has the bore 54, from which a. passageway 55 extends to the annular groove 56. The lower contact frame 50 50 comprises the u ward extension 57 receiving the threade lower end of, the tube 48. Connecting the interior of the tube 48 with the exteriorof tubular extension 57 is a passageway 58, ad'acent to which; termi- 85 ml screw 59 threa 5 into the extension 57.

Afusewirempamtzihrol oulrtgflietubefi its owerend .nccn" pasage 58 and-clamped under the head of screw 59 to be in electrical contact with the vlower 60 contact frame 50. The upper end of the fuse wire extends and through the groove 56 into firm electrical passageway 55 to-ba clamped with the contactheadflwhenflmscrewfiisdrawn tight. hsetsaewfilcmbeprondedfor way' As best shown in Fig. 3. this body part is surrounded by a groove 64, to which ere is the entrance slot 65. Secured to an extending radially inward from the contact sleeve 31 is a pin 66, this pin being adapted to form bayonet coupling arrangement with the entrance "and groove 64. Extending downwardly from,the interior of said body part and in register with the tubular extension 57 and fuse holder tube 48 extends the tubular arm 68, whose lower end is bifurcated to formthe slot 69. This slot is adapted to receive the pin eiifending across the end sleeve 71 on the handle 72. When it is desired to insert a fuse holder into the fuse holder supporting. frame, the handle 72 is applied to the lower end of the fuse holder, the lower end of tubular extension 68 passing into the sleeve 71 and the pin 70 entering the slot 69'. The fuse holder is now inserted through the contact sleeve 31, the conical end 0 the contact head 49 engaging the contact pocket 30 surrounding the lower end of the contact casting 20. The holder upon insertion is primarily in position so that the entrance 65 will receive the pin 66,

and themiipward movement of the fuse holder is limi by the enga mcnt of this pin with the lower wall of te groove 64. The handle is then turned either to the left or o the right so that the locking groove 64 will receive the pin and the fuse holder will be locked in position, and the handle can then readily be pulled from the tube extension 68.

The conical end of the contact pocket 30 is such that the spr' will have a tendency to expel the fuse ho der head 57, and this spring tension is transmitted to the bayonet coupling members and the fuse holder will be held securely in locked position without danger of jarred and vibrated to the unlocked 1011- If the fuse should blow, the fuse h dlder can readily be removed by ,appl the handle to the lower t thereof, and then first rotating to unloc lion and then drawing out the holder. if a result, the fuse-tube is broken, there will be no danger of the contact head 57 being held by the contact sleeves upon with 'drawal of the lower of the holder supframe, but construction of these springs as above described will cause ul- "sron of-tho contact head, whichwill en dro from. the sup frame after'the lower-part of the been withdrawn tullearks formed upon rupture of the fuse.

ases generated within the fuse holder -18 can esca directly to the atmosphere through e tubular extension 68, or can escape rough the screw 53 and passageway 58 into the fuse holder supporting frame and from there to the exterior through passageways extending through the body part 63 of the fuse holder contact ftame 50. With my arrangement as described, the fuse holder can ve quickly and safely be insorted or withdrawn from the fuse holder supporting frame. The construction is such that when the entire structure is mounted on a sup ort such as a cross-arm, the structure will perfectly balanced. By means of the additional contact 12 and the switch blade 17 the structure can be used as a cutout, which makes it very convenient for testing purposes or in case of trouble on a line. This additional contact 'and switch mechanism can, however, be omitted and a contact provided in place of the jaw members 23, 24-, so that the line terminals can be connected directly with the contact frames 20 and 31. The fuse holder supporting structure is weather proof and its insulating qualities are practimrlly permanent. Itis also fireproof and bein of strong construction is proof a inst violent blowing of fuses. After a. low-out, therefore, repairs will not have to be made to the supporting structure and at most a new fuse holder tube may substituted for the one destroyed upon blowing of the fuse. The construction is also such as to discourage mischievous rsons, as contact with extension 68 woul most likely result in a' severe shock. By use of the carefully insulated handle, however, connection with the fuseholder can be safely made.

It is understood, of course, that modifications in the construction and arrangement given are possible which will still be included in my invention. I do not, therefore, limit myself to the precise construction and a cut which I have shown and described, ut desire to secure the. followinlg claims by Letters Patent:

1. n fuse mechanism, the combination of suitable sup rting structure, a contact frame sec at one end of said structure, a plurality of contact sprin a secured to said contact frame and arran to form a conical contact socket a companion contact frame secured at the other end of the supporting structure and having a passageway extending therethrough and toward the contact socket, a fuse holder having a tapered contact head at one end and a contact plu at the other, said fuse'holder being adapt for insertion through said passageway to carry its contact head into engagement with the contact springs forming the contact socket and to carry its contact plug into electrical engagement with the companion contact frame, said contact springs tending to expel the fuse holder contact head, and locking means associated with the conipanion contact frame and the fuse holder contact plug for locking said fuse holder in electrical association with the contact frames.

2. In fuse mechanism, the combination of a supporting structure, contact springs secured at one end of said structure and forming acontact socket, a contact sleeve secured at the other end of the supporting structure, a fuse holder having a tapered contact head at one end and a contact plug at the other, said fuse holder being adapted for insertion through said sleeve contact tocarry its head into said spring contact socket and its plug into electrical engagement with said sleeve contact said contact springs-tending to expel said contact head, and locking means for locking the fuse holder in position to hold the contact head in firm electrical engagement in said contact socketformed by said contact springs.

3. In fuse mechanism, the combination of a supporting structure, contact springs secured at one end of said structure ahd forming a contact socket, a-contact sleeve secured at the other end of the support-ing structure, a fuse holder having a tapered contact head atone end and a contact plug at the other,

said fuse holder being adapted for insertion through said sleeve to carry its head into said spring contact socket and its plug into electrical engagement with said sleeve contact, said contact springs tending to ex 1 said contact head, and locking means fir locking together the fuse hol er plu and the sleeve contact. whereby said fuse older is maintained to form electrical engagement with said contact springs.

4. In fuse and cut-out mechanism, the combination of a metallic horizontal supporting frame having an integral vertical extension at one end. an insulating member secured to the top of said extension, a terminal frame secured to the top of said insulating member. a switch blade pivoted to said terminal frame, a tubular supporting structure secured at an intermediate part to the other end of said metallic frame and extending parallel with said extension, a contact frame at the upper end of said tubular supporting structure having contact jaws for receiving the free end of said switch blade. :1 second contact on said tubular supportingstructure, and a fuse holder having contactsfor engaging said contact frame and said second contact.

5. In fuse and cut-out mechanism, the combination of a metallic horizontal supporting frame having an integral vertical extension at one end. an insulating member secured to the top of said extension, a terminal frame secured on top of said insulator,

a switch blade pivoted to said terminal frame, a tubular su porting structure se cured at an interm 'ate-part tn the other end of said frame and extending parallel 5 with said extension, a contact frame secured to the end of said tubular supporting structure and having contact jaw members for receiving the free end of said SWiiAfl l blade, :1 terminal frame secured to the lower end of said supporting structure and having a cylindrical way communicating and alining wit the interior of said tubular structure, a fuse holder adapted for insertion through said pasageway and into the tubular structure, and a contact head and contact plug for said fuse holder adapted for engagement respectively with the contact frame and the cylindrical wall of the terminal frame at the ends of said tubular support. a

6. big fuse mechanism, the comfbinatilgn of a tu or supporting structure 0 ins materi a contact frame secured to and e i tending into the upper end of said support; ing structure, a 0 extending from said contact frame beyon the supporting struc- 4 ture, a contact'frame secured to and extending mto the lower end of said tubular structure and having a passageway communicatand alining with the interior of-the tuar structu'm, a flange exten from the lower contactframe and beyond e tubular structure, an upper insulating member surrounding the t ular structure, an insulating member surrounding the lower part of the tubular structure, and a supporting frame engaging the atnbular structure betweet;e the ad'acznt ends of the mem rs, sai anges engaging e er ends of the insula 0 members and causing said insulating mem to clamp the supporting frame.

7. ilnlfuse mechanism, the combination of a tu'uar su rtmg' structure a contact frame having ihi'eaded engagemnt with the upper end of said structure and having a flange extending laterally beyond the hi ulnr structure, a contact frame having screw threaded engagement with the lower end of said tubular structure and having a flange extending laterally beyond sai tubular structure, said lower contact frame ha mg a passageway with the bore of the lorlveeeatseuhlriadiredag'thoWd wuhtnztca.n. c."

tubular structure, a supporting frame engaging at an intermediate int with the tubular structure, an ins ating member surrounding the tubular structure between the supporting frame and the flange of the upper contact frame, an insulating member 3111'0111 thefitubulardsttll'luctureflmgebetzvign ievsupportmg me an .e o e lower contact frame, said insulating members being moved together upon threading ent of the contact frames with the tub ar structure whereby said supporting frame is clam between the insulating members and e tubular structure thereby supported from said supporting frame, and a fuse holder adapted for insertion into the tubular structure through the ussageu'a of the lower contact frame, said fuse ho der having contact terminals for engaging the upper and lower contact frames.

8. In fuse mechanism, the combination of a tube of insulating material, a terminal frame having threaded engagement with one end of said tube and having lateral extensions, a terminal frame having threaded enga ment with the lower end of said tube an having lateral extensions, there being a passageway through said lower terminal rame alining with thetube, at protecting member surrounding the upper part of the tube and enga the lateral extensions of the upper termi fi frame, a protectin member surrounding the lower part of e tube and engaging the lateral extensions of the lower tubular frame, a supporting frame clamped between e inner ends of'the pr0- tecting members by the cngagementof said flanges with the outer ends of said protecting members when the terminal frames are screw threaded to the tube. a fuse holder having contact terminals and adapted to be inserted through said pamageway into the tube to carry said contact terminals into electrical engagement with the upper .and

lower contact frames on said tube. 0

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd day of January A. D. 1909.

- EDWARD B. ELLICOT'I".

Witnesses:

- Lnoxann W. Norman,

' Faun: J.'Tm.zx.'

latent; 

